17 MARCH 2014 - PHRAEKSA, SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND: A Thai government worker takes air quality readings in the evacution center in Phraeksa, Samut Prakan province. Hundreds of people who live near the landfill were evacuated out of the area because of a fire buring in the landfill. A fire apparently spontaneously started in the landfill in Samut Prakan over the weekend and threatens the homes of workers who live near the landfill. The fire Officials said the fire started when garbage in the landfill burst into flames and the flames were spread by hot, dry winds. Hundreds of people have been evacuated because of the fire and acrid smoke from the fire has spread as far as Bangkok. It hasn't rained in central Thailand in more than three months, impacting agriculture and domestic water use. Many farms are running short of irrigration water and salt water from the Gulf of Siam has come up the Chao Phraya River and infiltrated the water plants in Pathum Thani province that serve Bangkok. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ